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Two Women

Released May 9, 1961 1h 39m Drama List
88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
During World War II, Italian widow Cesira (Sophia Loren) must leave Rome with her devout daughter when the city comes under attack by Allied forces. The pair flee to a small village, where they meet -- and both fall for -- the charming Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo). But the war uproots the life of mother and daughter once again when soldiers attack the duo and subject them to sexual assault. Their bond is strained as they struggle to overcome the tragedy that changes them both forever.

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Two Women

Critics Reviews

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Vernon Young Film Quarterly [Sophia Loren] doesn’t give a performance; she gives an existence. Jan 17, 2024 Full Review Isabel Quigly The Spectator A fair example of this dissipation of emotional energy. Not that Two Women is a bad film. Jul 18, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rendering an astounding performance as a young widow in Vittiro De Sica's bleak neo-realistic WWII drama, Italian Sophia Loren became the first actress to (deservedly) win the Oscar for a role in a foreign-language film. Rated: A- Aug 29, 2010 Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat A powerful experience to behold, and one of De Sica's finest films. Rated: 5/5 Aug 14, 2009 Full Review Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly Rated: 3/5 Jun 12, 2007 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A bleak but powerful anti-war drama. Rated: A- Jun 26, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lanfranco C In War can happen anything. It is hard to have the strenght to pass through. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review emm c Very well done, outstanding movie. Sophia Loren is wonderful. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A war drama from a widowed mother's perspective seems like a very complex and tense film yet it is very well executed. That is Vittorio De Sica's film Two Women as it tells the story of a widowed mother (played by Sophia Loren) who tries to protect his daughter's innocence from the horrors of war. Sophia Loren who has starred in films in the past like Attila and Houseboat puts on a very daring and wonderful performance in Two Women. The costume designs in the film were pretty authentic for my taste. What is very nuanced and tense for this film was the film's cinematography by Gábor Pogány because of a certain scene in this film that became the turning point. All because that scene alone changed the atmosphere of the film. Two Women is a very poignant, heartbreaking, daring, and brilliant film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Rich S Sophia Loren "was created differently, behaved differently, affected me differently from any woman I have known," Two Women director/writer Vittorio De Sica once said. "I looked at that face, those unbelievable eyes, and I saw it all as a miracle." Given the starring role in Two Women, Sophia Loren delivered the first Best Actress Oscar ever given for a performance in a foreign-language film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/21 Full Review kevin w De Sica's look at Rome, Italy, and the outlying regions, at the very end of WW2, is fascinating for that aspect alone, a sort of window into history. But the earthy, down-to-the-gutter performance by Sophia Loren raises the stakes considerably as a loving mother leading her oblivious daughter through dangerous straits, times, and men of war. Worthwhile. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I saw this film years ago and never forgot it. It is brutal and tender. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Two Women

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Two Women

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Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, Italian widow Cesira (Sophia Loren) must leave Rome with her devout daughter when the city comes under attack by Allied forces. The pair flee to a small village, where they meet -- and both fall for -- the charming Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo). But the war uproots the life of mother and daughter once again when soldiers attack the duo and subject them to sexual assault. Their bond is strained as they struggle to overcome the tragedy that changes them both forever.
Director
Vittorio De Sica
Producer
Carlo Ponti
Screenwriter
Vittorio De Sica
Distributor
Embassy Pictures
Production Co
Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, Les Films Marceau, Cocinor
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 1961, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2017
Runtime
1h 39m
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